Garment hanger

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger is provided that permits the hanger to be inserted into a neck of a garment where the width of the neck is smaller than the width of the hanger. The hanger has an elongate base with two shoulders formed on opposing ends of the base that converge towards each other at acute angles. The first shoulder has a terminal hook. The second shoulder has a terminal end forms a gap between the terminal end and the hook. This gap permits the second shoulder to be inserted into the neck of the garment a distance sufficient to permit the first shoulder to be inserted into the neck allowing the garment to be symmetrically supported on the first and second shoulders of the hanger.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a garment hanger with an opening near the hook of the hanger in order that one end of the hanger can be inserted downwardly into the neck of a garment while the hanger is being applied to the garment. This is useful when the neck of the garment is smaller than the width of the hanger because the neck of the garment is permanently closed, as in a T shirt, or because the neck of a garment with an openable neck is already fastened into a closed position.

Garments may be stretched or damaged when inserting a traditional hanger into the neck of the garment without first unfastening the garment. This is due to the difference in width between the neck of the garment and the width of the hanger. Many garments are manufactured with closed necks, i.e., necks that are not openable and closable by buttons, snaps, zippers, and the like. In such cases, if the garment is to be suspended by a hanger, the neck must be stretched to a degree sufficient to allow a hanger to be inserted into the garment through the neck. This occurs by inserting one end of the hanger into the neck as far as it will extend, and then stretching the neck of the garment sufficiently so that the fabric of the neck can be passed over the other end of the hanger. Then, the garment is arranged on the hanger, often with a stretched, malformed neck. In extreme cases, the fabric of the garment surrounding the neck may be damaged. Garments made with openable necks, such as buttons, require either the stretching of the fabric, or the time consuming action of manually opening the fastening system, inserting the hanger, and then closing the fastening system. This creates a significant expense in labor and time. In addition, garments shown in retail establishments are subject to the consumer handling of the garment. This introduces the opportunity for the garment to be stretched to the point of fabric damage, or to not be properly suspended on the hanger and falling to the floor, potentially introducing dirt and dust onto the fabric, creating the need for additional handling and processing to clean the garment.

In other instances, such as in factories manufacturing garments that open either all or part of the way down the front or back of the garment, it is most efficient to close the garment during the manufacturing process before it is placed onto the hanger. In such cases, it is necessary to re-open the garment to enlarge the neck opening, insert the hanger, and then reclose the neck. This requires more time and labor and does not allow for the use of automation during various activities a garment goes through during its lifecycle such as manufacturing, finishing, transportation, and packaging.

One prior art garment hanger has a design that enables the hanger to be inserted into the garment without unfastening. However this design has a substantially asymmetric configuration that results in a garment not hung with symmetrically full support and having insufficient dimensional stability, for example the garment hanger shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,423. This asymmetrical configuration is not conducive to maintaining garments on hangers in situations where movement of the hanger is involved, such as in manufacturing, transportation or garment finishing.

There is a need for a simple, inexpensive and easily useable garment hanger that can be inserted into the neck of a garment with a neck substantially smaller that the hanger without damage to the garment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a garment hanger that can be inserted into a garment neck without damaging or stretching the closed neck of the garment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a garment hanger that can be inserted into a garment neck with significantly reduced labor costs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a garment hanger that allows for the use of automation during manufacturing, transport, finishing and packaging of garments.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments set forth below by providing a garment hanger that permits the hanger to be inserted into a neck of a garment where the width of the neck is smaller than the width of the hanger. The hanger has an elongate base with two shoulders formed on opposing ends of the base that converge towards each other at acute angles. The first shoulder has a terminal hook. The second shoulder has a terminal end forms a gap between the terminal end and the hook. This gap permits the second shoulder to be inserted into the neck of the garment a distance sufficient to permit the first shoulder to be inserted into the neck allowing the garment to be symmetrically supported on the first and second shoulder of the hanger.

According to another embodiment, the garment hanger is integrally formed from a single length of material.

According to another embodiment, the garment hanger has flat walls with a width that is larger than the depth.

According to another embodiment, the garment hanger is integrally formed from a single length of material stamped out of a thin sheet of material.

According to another embodiment, the garment hanger is dimensioned for one of the group consisting of an infant garment, a youth garment, and an adult garment.

According to another embodiment, the garment hanger shoulders are at congruent acute angles.

According to another embodiment, the garment hanger is formed of a single length of wire having a circular cross-section.

According to another embodiment, the garment hanger is integrally-formed of a single length of material having a rectilinear cross-section.

According to another embodiment, a garment hanger is provided that permits the hanger to be inserted into a neck of a garment where the width of the neck is smaller than the width of the hanger. The hanger has an elongate base with two shoulders formed on opposing ends of the base that converge towards each other at congruent acute angles. The first shoulder has a terminal hook. The second shoulder has a terminal end forms a gap between the terminal end and the hook. This gap permits the second shoulder to be inserted into the neck of the garment a distance sufficient to permit the first shoulder to be inserted into the neck allowing the garment to be symmetrically supported on the first and second shoulder onto the hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The present invention is best understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are opposite vertical side elevations of the garment hanger;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the garment hanger shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4-6 are sequential perspective views of the garment hanger being inserted into an infant garment;

FIGS. 7-9 are sequential perspective views of the garment hanger being inserted into a youth golf shirt;

FIGS. 10-12 are sequential perspective views of the garment hanger being inserted into an adult dress shirt;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are opposite vertical side elevations of the garment hanger in an alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the garment hanger shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a garment hanger 10 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in the preferred embodiment. The hanger 10 has a base 14 with a first shoulder 18 and a second shoulder 20 formed on opposite ends of the base 14. The shoulders 18, 20 converge upwards from the base 14 at congruent acute angles 22, 24. A hook 12 on the end of the shoulder 18 permits the hanger 10 to be suspended in a conventional manner. The hook 12 opens in the direction of the first shoulder 18. The second shoulder 20 has a terminal end 26 that defines a gap 16 between the terminal end 26 and the hook 12. A void 17 with an opening at the gap 16 is formed between the shoulders 18, 20 and the base 14.

According to one preferred embodiment, the hanger 10 is integrally formed by jig-based bending of a single length of heavy gauge metal wire to provide stability. For example, one suitable wire gauge is 3/16 inches. Other techniques, such as thin sheet stamping, injection molding, or 3-D printing can also be used to manufacture the hanger 10. Other materials such as steel, plastic, wood, or resin can be used to make the hanger 10. The hanger 10 may also have other cross-sections, such as flat, oval, square and the like.

The hanger 10 can be manufactured in any suitable size to match different applications for infant, youth and adult garments, for example. The base 14 is approximately nine inches, fourteen inches, and eighteen inches in length for the three sizes, respectively. Additionally, hanger 10 size can be adjusted for other products or for men or women sized garments. All other dimensions of the hangers are proportional in relation to the length of the base 14 for each size of hanger 10.

FIGS. 4-6 show the process of the hanger 10 being inserted into the neck 42 of an infant garment 40. The shoulder 20 is first inserted into the neck 42 such that the neck 42 passes through the gap 16 and into the void 17 of the hanger 10. The shoulder 20 is then moved further into a sleeve 44 of the infant garment 40 until the shoulder 18 of the hanger 10 is able to be inserted downward into the neck 42 without causing stretching. Finally the hanger 10 is shifted inside of the infant garment 40 until the two shoulders 18, 20 are symmetrically supporting the sleeves 44, 46 and the hook 12 is aligned to the center of the infant garment 42 neck. The result is that the center of the hook 12 is also the center of gravity for the combined weight of the infant garment 40 and hanger 10.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the same insertion process as shown in FIGS. 4-6 is used, with the hanger 10 being inserted into a youth golf shirt 50 without unbuttoning the buttons of the shirt placket.

FIGS. 10-12 show the same insertion process as shown in FIGS. 4-6, with the hanger 10 being inserted into an adult dress shirt 60 without unbuttoning one or more of the buttons of the shirt extending down the front side of the shirt.

The insertion processes shown in FIGS. 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 allow for the use of automation during the lifecycle of the garment from manufacture, transport, finishing, packaging, and cleaning. Garments can be removed and inserted easily at a greater speed without damaging the garment. Due to the stability provided by the symmetrical support, the garments can also be processed more easily in an automated garment finisher, for example.

FIGS. 13-15 show an alternative embodiment where the hanger 10 is formed from a stamped thin sheet of metal having a rectilinear cross-section.

A garment hanger according to the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment hanger for permitting the hanger to be inserted into a neck of a garment where the width of the neck is smaller than the width of the hanger, comprising: (a) an elongate base; (b) first and second shoulders formed on opposing ends of the base and converging towards each other at acute angles; (c) the first shoulder defining a terminal hook; and (d) the second shoulder having a terminal end forming a gap between the terminal end and the hook for permitting the second shoulder to be inserted into the neck of the garment a distance sufficient to permit the first shoulder to be inserted into the neck, whereby the garment may be symmetrically supported on the first and second shoulders of the hanger.
 2. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger is integrally formed from a single length of material.
 3. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger is integrally formed from a single length of wire.
 4. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger is dimensioned for one of the group consisting of an infant garment, a youth garment, and an adult garment.
 5. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the shoulders form congruent acute angles.
 6. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger is formed of a single length of wire having a circular cross-section.
 7. A garment hanger according to claim 1, wherein the hanger is integrally-formed of a single length of material having a rectilinear cross-section.
 8. A garment hanger for permitting the hanger to be inserted into a neck of a garment where the width of the neck is smaller than the width of the hanger, comprising: (a) an elongate base; (b) first and second shoulders formed on opposing ends of the base and converging towards each other at congruent acute angles; (c) the first shoulder defining a terminal hook; and (d) the second shoulder having a terminal end and forming a gap between the terminal end and the hook for permitting the second shoulder to be inserted into the neck of the garment a distance sufficient to permit the first shoulder to be inserted into the neck, whereby the garment may be symmetrically supported on the first and second shoulders of the hanger.
 9. A garment hanger according to claim 8, wherein the hanger is formed of a single length of wire having a circular cross-section.
 10. A garment hanger according to claim 8, wherein the hanger is integrally-formed of a single length of material having a rectilinear cross-section. 